Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-12-22
6ecSlYely-


complimeuted me coldly on your good
looks, Madge, when told him you were
my sister, my only sister and my all on
earth. That was all Could he have
been concerned in the cruel disappoint.
ment, or misunderstanding, which,
have heard, ruined your maiden hopes Of
bliss when I was but a child, making
your latter years so bitter, and yet SC
sweet, so motherly to me' Hardly.
Though Springsteel has but seldom alluded
to his antecedents, I do not think he
could have been from our neighborhood
in the east. What was your pictures
softening influence, then, upon such q
man, my sister, Alas! nothing more,
1 fear, than passing generous freak in
. heart unused TO pity. Doubtless that
was all; and now my life is his upon de-
mand. No matter. You are to be with
me tomorrow. Madse. You are thence
forth to make your home with me, and
not another soul the wiser. And when
we have become snugly settled in the
little ranch that have been secretly pay
ing for and fitting up. perhaps my mis-
used chum may yet further forgive me
those crazy words, and forego the life debt
that must lie his for the asking"
He laid the picture upon the stand and
arose.
II will go to him. he repeated. "Yes;
Twill at least humble myself before him,
a. Is only just, even though he spurn me
with contempt. And yet-what is the
use' What was my provocation' His
stern, but well meant, interference to pre-
vent me losing my pile to n notorious
gambler and cheat, who was careful
enough on his part-the skulking coward!
not to resent the thwarting And that
was my requital Of such kindness. Good
lord! torrents Of foul abuse, and those
mad, those t..otic epithets. lam crazy to
dream that he will forgive it-that he will
not demand his shot on occasion. Oh,
Madge, Madge! to Whist ruin may our
hoped for happiness he doomed by my
folly and my madness''
He took another drink from the bottle,
and desperately threw himself on the bed,
after merely throwing OF his coat and
boots.
He presently fell asleep, while softly re-
peating the words: .'Madge, Msdge! re-
united At last"
He WAS awakened at daylight by q suf-
locating sensation, and got upon his feet,
coughing and splitting.
The room was fast filing with smoke,
the reflection Of flames rose and fell before
the window, the very boards beneath his
feet were hot. He tore open the door.
The corridor was full Of yet denser smoke.
scanned with occasional flashes. cries Of
alarm were ringing through the lower
passages, and there was q crash from
somewhere below, followed by fountain
Of sparks and flames which he correctly
attributed to the fall Of q burned away
staircase, thus cutting of escape in that
direction. He closed the door, staggered
across the floor to the window, and hurled
the sashes outward by q single pressure
Of his powerful hand.
He was in the fifth story Of the burning
hotel, fully sixty feet above the stony
street, which was filed with an excited
multitude.
They were gesticulating and yelling to
him. but that was all Plenty of useless
running about, impracticable vocifera-
tions in abundance, but not thing being
done or offered for his relief from the ap-
palling situation.
The flames, which were spouting ont Of
the whole rows Of lower windows, flicked
upon the sea Of upturned faces, and yet
more hideously upon his own, which he
felt to have grown Of an ashy hue, while
his heart was beating like steam pump.
To add to his horror, the passengers
were alighting from the eastern mail
stage, which had just drawn up before
the station, at the cage Of the little plaza,
nearly opposite, and the second one to
touch the ground was woman-his sister
Madge herself.
She looked terrified by the confusion.
Sarcasm of destiny, Had she come at
last, all the way from Ohio. with nothing
but love for HIM and hopeful peetations
In her heart, only to meet his final glance,
his fond brotherly gaze. across this lurid
depth, this sea Of fiames'
Yes! for even at that instant she per-
ceived him-recognized him-and their
looks met
His heart ceased its wild throbbings and
then stood Still with sympathetic anguish
as he marked her bloodless face, her frozen
attitude, the indescribab,e horror in her
dilated eyes and parted lips.
Then the crowd undulated and yelled as
four stalwart men forced, punched and
shouldered their way through it, bearing
two long house painters ladders spliced
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